Search the word &quot;lonely&quot; on TikTok and you&#39;ll find a seemingly endless stream of videos of people talking on camera and reporting the overwhelming feeling of loneliness.

Loneliness is real, painful, and increasing.
Loneliness means being separated from other people. More and more people don't know how to create and, once found, maintain these social connections. At its core, it is an alienation from your true self.
Here are five important things you should know about loneliness:
1. Anyone can be lonely. We need to change our understanding of who is affected by loneliness because it could be anyone. In fact, statistically it is every second person in many parts of Europe - whether single, married, with or without children, old or young. The frequency of this phenomenon cannot be overstated. 
2. Loneliness and being alone look similar, but they are not. Although being alone seems similar, it does not have the same negative effects as loneliness. Seeking moments of quiet reflection positively influences factors such as happiness and blood pressure. Loneliness, on the other hand, is a feeling of isolation that often persists even when other people are present. 
3. Loneliness is more than just a negative feeling. Chronic loneliness can have a major impact on mental and <a href="https://www.lofficielibiza.com/soul-spirituality/how-emotional-trauma-could-be-impacting-your-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener">physical health</a>. A lack of social connection and interaction has the same health consequences as smoking up to 15 cigarettes or drinking more than six alcoholic drinks a day, according to <a href="https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3024&amp;context=facpub">research</a> by Holt-Lunstad at Brigham Young University. It also worsens existing mental illnesses. <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">
In contrast, the " <a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blaue_Zone_(Demographie)">Blue Zones</a> " are places worldwide where residents live longer than average and have well-being well above average. Lifelong <a href="https://www.lofficielibiza.com/soul-spirituality/5-red-flags-recognize-toxic-friends" target="_blank" rel="noopener">friendships</a> and a sense of community contribute to these positive outcomes.
Find your people.
4. Less time in front of the screen, more personal contact. <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">In Germany, screen time is increasing according to an ARD/ZDF online <a href="https://www.ard-zdf-onlinestudie.de/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="letter-spacing: 0px;">study</a> <a href="https://www.ard-zdf-onlinestudie.de/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">to 10 hours per day. Online interactions cannot replace the real contact we desire. While it's great to stay in touch with old friends on <a href="https://www.lofficielibiza.com/soul-spirituality/finding-freedom-in-a-curated-world-understanding-and-surviving-the-social-media-g" target="_blank" rel="noopener">social media</a> or video chat with family, we need to be careful about maintaining our personal connections. A real-life encounter can fulfill us in ways that a smartphone simply cannot.
5. Find your &ldquo;third place.&rdquo; <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">Your third place is a place to connect with others, share your thoughts and dreams, and have fun. Your first place is home, your second place is work and many who now work from home don't even have a second place, let alone a third place. Your third place is where real connections bloom. It is often a public place where people meet informally and regularly. Examples include caf&eacute;s and pubs, sports clubs, the gym and religious communities.
The solution to loneliness may seem simple. After all, we just need to spend more time with other people, right?
But the solution will require all of us to consciously and continually check in with the people we love, seek new <a href="https://www.lofficielibiza.com/soul-spirituality/venus-retrograde-2023-relationships-zodiac-signs-horoscope" target="_blank" rel="noopener">relationships</a>, and balance the time we spend online with the time we spend with others.

5 Approaches That Are Redefining Loneliness

5 Approaches That Are Redefining Loneliness

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